Ask yourself why you want to return to nursing school. The reasons you want to go back may not be the same reasons as when you enrolled the first time.
Ask yourself why you left the program-were there academic or financial challenges? Much of your time is spent in lecture or on clinical rotations, so what little time you have left is for studying. Finances can be a huge stressor if you have a family to support.
Obtain a copy of your all your college transcripts-some institutions may charge a nominal fee.
Study the admission requirements of schools that you are considering. Note how old your classes are-some programs only accept math and science courses that are less than five years old.
Make an appointment with a counselor of the nursing program that you wish to attend and bring all your transcripts. Ask which credits will transfer. You may need to retake prerequisite classes if they are too old, and there may be other classes that you need to take as well.
Figure how long you need to take the prerequisites-it may be two or three years, depending on your circumstances-and how you plan to do it. Are they offered online or do you need to attend class? If you had difficulty with past courses, or if you do not remember the material, you may need to freshen up on it.
Decide how you will support yourself while you are in school. Speak with a counselor at the financial aid office of the institution where you will be completing your prerequisites. You may be able to work full-time when you are taking prerequisites, but it will not be possible when you are in nursing school; therefore, speak to a financial aid counselor again when you are admitted into the professional program.